Assistance with animal track ID

[Jesse Jaymes]

Pictured with a 40 S&W 155 grn round


Pictured next to a Danner 11 1/2D

Thoughts?

[norsepeak]

top one looks like doggie, but the bottom looks a little more like kitty.  hard to tell from the pics.

[Elkslayer]

Thats what I was thinking. First one definatley looks like K-9. Second one looks more like cat!

[Jesse Jaymes]

Both were taken in Stevens County

The "dog" track was actually a pair, and they only stepped out onto the road for about 1/4 mile then bailed....This is the second set of the largest "dog" tracks I've seen.  The other set was also a pair on the heels of a deer and they pushed it back and forth between BC and our side 2 times within the 3/4 mile I stayed on them.  Thought it was odd.  Was approximately 20 miles between the two sets of "dog" tracks and the Columbia River seperated the two sets.  Seems to be many enormous "dogs" running around this winter up there....

"Kitty" a good one or average?   I'd cut a pair together about 8 miles prior to this one.  Both much smaller.  Was thinking a pair of cubs from this year or last year?  But honestly do not know much about them.  Hence the post.

[bearpaw]

 

canine and tom cougar

The canine could be a wolf as several people have seen wolves this year in Unit 105, was it in a remote area west of the columbia in that unit? Several have been pups seen in that area this summer too. I think there is another small pack there now.

A female cougar normally sets it's rear foot exactly where the front foot was when walking. Since tom's are longer, the hind foot lands a little short, thus a double stepped appearance like your track. It doesn't appear to be dragging it's feet too much though, often the bigger the cat the more he drags his feet and the greater he double steps. Looks like possibly a 115 to 140 pound tom lion to me. Can't be any more specific than that looking at a photo. 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Pretty much in that area.  I am just getting to know the GMU, so maybe Aladdin and Kelly Hill?  Or Sherman.

I am trying to be hesitant to "cry wolf", as I really do feel there are too many people that want drama or want to be the Great White Hunter and say they've seen wolf, or wolf tracks or wolverines or whatever.

The size of the K9 tracks were impressive in both instances.  And I have owned both big footed, 100 pound Chessies and 100+ pound Malamutes.  They had big feet.  And these are much larger.

Speaking of the Chessie and the Great White Hunters.  I shot a ton of doves in NM around a "tank" which is just a mud pit where cattle try and get water from a mud puddle.  My dog was all over the place bringing back doves.  I took a GWH there 3 days later.  A good hearted co-worker.  He could not believe all the "lion sign" that was watering at the tank!!!  I hated to break his heart. 

Point is, if I had not corrected him, he would have told everyone at work, then the townies would know, then it would be the next hot spot for lion/cougar, and the legend would go on.  So I am hesitant to call them wolf tracks, but I really don't think it's realistic to think there are AT LEAST TWO PAIR of the largest footed feral dogs roaming the remote areas I found these in either.

I think Metaline and the Sullivan area has actual confirmed wolves, and is pretty common knowledge by both locals and WAGF.  Metaline was only about 9 linear miles from where I found one set, so I think it's quite possible.  The other set was a good bit farther west.

Good intel on the cats though.  I didn't measure stride.  I was hoping I could get a pad width measurement that would be a good indicator of size?

Where is the Le Clerc area?  As there are many cool game cam pics of beasties reported in that area

[longrange7mm]

top ones a dog   bottom ones a kitty the dog is pretty big here is a wolf tracks i took

[Jesse Jaymes]

WOW!  I just measured my hand in the same position as yours.  About 8" by 8". That makes those tracks about 9" in diameter.  I didn't think they were that big!!  That's bigger than any front pad of a black bear that I'd ever seen!

[longrange7mm]

they wer prolly 7X7 to start with if the snow melts the tracks will grow  as the snow melts

[EastWaViking]

they wer prolly 7X7 to start with if the snow melts the tracks will grow  as the snow melts

Just what I was going to say... still good sized tracks!

[Jesse Jaymes]

Wasn't trying to start a pissing match.  Audubon says tracks are 4" long by 3 1/2" wide with foot drag marks common.  About like this



The coyotes always cruise the Forest Service roads, and I am assuming that is the case in the pic

Not saying yours aren't wolf tracks, but I think they've had a good bit of snow melt down and show up a good bit over exaggerated.


Off to the Gun Show....enjoy your weekend

[longrange7mm]

i have seen fresh ones that are closer to the 6-7 inch diameter hell my 90 lbs dogs print is 4.5 - 5. there are some big dogs in the area i took these photos up looking for sheep in the dead Indian basin of the rockies. but no pissn match started here jj

[top pin1]

Longrange tracks are not that old. I live and hunt in idaho and I've seen wolf tracks in soft dirt that size consistently.

I've always tried to explain wolf tracks to people. If you think it could be one then it isnt because the day you do see one like Longrange has there you will know you've seen one.

They are huge. Every track I've ever seen you cannot make a circle around it with your thumb and pointer finger connected. If you can then its either a baby puppy or a dog.

They have HUGE feet.  and teeth